Assembler mechanism of type casting machines



June 1, 1943. HUTCHlSON 2,320,932

ASSEMBLER MECHANISM OF TYPE CASTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 13, 1942 ATTORNEY.

Patented June 1, 1943 UNET' "ATEAENT orang s ASSEMBLER MEcHANrs .orr'rvra CASTING MACHINES 6 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful-vimprovements in the assembler mechanism-.01 a Linotype machine.

The improvement is-incorporated in an assell bler mechanism of the type disclosed in U. S.

Patent 1,932,366, granted October 24, 1933, to Samuel E. Sperry. Character bearing matrices are released from a magazine by a keyboard or teletypesetter. The matrices are guided by the assembler entrance partitions to an endless belt which carries themto the assembler elevator. Interposed between the elevatorand the endless belt is a star wheel which receives each matrix as it falls from the belt and places it in a vertical position in the elevator. The assemblerslide arranged below the elevator has an upstanding finger which holds the lineof matrices compactly together. As the matrices are assembled against the finger by the star wheel the assembler slide is pushed along. One arm of a bell crank is connected to the assembler slide and a spring attached to the other arm thereof yieldably resists movement of the slide. The .purpose of the spring is to return the assembler slide to :the initial position each time the assembler elevator goes up to send a line of matrices to the casting mechanism. The matrices pressed intoline by the star wheel frequently jam because of the resistance of the spring to movement of the as- ,sembler slide. The tendency of the matrices to jam becomes more marked as the line lengthens and the tension of the spring becomes greater. Also, the force with which the assembler slide finger presses the line against the star wheel, which is generally made of fiber, causes the wheel to wear rapidly. A brake mechanism is provided to prevent backward motion of the assembler slide when the line of matrices is beingassembled. However, this mechanism does not relieve the resistance offered by the spring to forward motion of the assembler slide.

An important object of my invention is to provide an attachment for the assembler mechanism that will remove the tension of the spring from the assembler slide when the line of matrices is being assembled in the elevator whereby to reduce wearing of the star wheel and to greatly reduce jamming of the matrices in the elevator.

Another object of my invention is to provide an attachment for the assembler mechanism that will eliminate the braking mechanism.

Still another object of my invention is theprovi ion of an attachment of the above mentioned character that will automatically-return the asmb r-sli etaan..ieiiialrwitim;s s im h elevator rises.

;.Yet mt q is ts mrier et t e-P visi o a at achme thi hara h m ri re di vi c e r isdin. t e o en elevator meghanism; a r -1 d. that is .simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

In th drawing wherein.likenumeralsare employed to designate dike {partsthroughout the same,

Fig. 1 isa fragmentary front elevation of the assembler front of: a Linotype machine, showing my attachment incorperated therewith and illustrating its relation with the. conventional .parts Fig.2 is an: exploded. perspectiveview .of the several parts of the attachment. and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional .viewtaken on the line 3- -s of Fig. 1.

Theinvention is to be. applied .to the. assembler mechanism or a conventional "Linotype machine.

Interposed. between .the elevator, designatedgenerally bythenumeral. l0,- and .the..endless belt ll isa star. wheel l2. Matrices 13, released fromthe magazine (not shown) fall by. gravity between the assembler entrance-Y partitions .l 4 and onto. the

endls'smbela I I1- Whichcarries themv towardthe star wheel 12. -,The-, matric.es fall intothe. star wheel l2as illustratedinll'ig. 1 and the star wheel introduces them into the elevator. l0. ,Ifhe matrices introduced into the elevator areassembled against an .upstanding .finger. l5 10f, the assembler slide I61 i The assemble slide,ispushed to the left as .thelineof, matrices islformed in the elevator and,,as it.moves,.it pivots,,thebell rcrank ll whichis connected theretoby alink. 18.

. When a full linehasbeen .formed in the elevator,

the. elevator rises .to transfer the linelto the. castngemechanism. When the ,line,is.-raised,.- the assembler slideis released andreturnedlto the initiahposition by spring 26. .l/lfhen the line of matrice is beinga'ssembled the, assembling elevator releasing bar. le is'in the iullline position in Fig. 1. Howevenwhen .thelineis transferred to the casting mechanism, bar l9 movestoward the left .to the dotted lineposition. The operationof the assembler mechanism iscon'tinuous and assoon a the assembler. slide returns to .the

initialposition; a new line "of matrices is formed in the elevator. Substantially simultaneously with the introduction of the foremost matrices, the. assembling elevator.. releasing ,bar. I 9 returns totheiull line position. K

- .In the conventional mechanism, the assembler slid'lever spring 20 has one end connectedto the fac plate 2I and the other end connected to the upper arm of hell crank Il. When the assembler slide moves to the left, the upper arm of the bell crank is rotated in the direction of the arrow to tension spring 20. The farther the assembler slide I 6 moves to the left, the greaterwill be the tension of spring 20.

My invention comprises a slide 22 having ribs 22a. on its upper and lower edges which slide in grooves in guideway 23. The assembling elevator releasing .bar I 9 also operates in the guideway 23 and slide 22 is disposed to the right of the bar. Pivoted to the slide is a slotted lever 24. I disconnect spring 20 from the bell crank and connect it to the pin 24a on lever 24. If necessary, the spring may be shortened so that it will be under slight tension when the slide 22 is at the end of its travel to the right. This position is shown by dotted lines in Fig. l. I provide the upper arm of the bell crank Il with a pin Ila that extends through the slot 24b in lever 24.

This arrangement greatly reduces any tendency of the matrices to jam in the elevator and greatly reduces wearing of the fiber star wheel I2. mechanism for the assemblerslide I6, heretofore deemed necessary. The following parts or their equivalents are eliminated:

1. The assembler slide brake operating lever.

2. The assembler slide brake.

3. The assembler slide brake facing.

4. The assembler slide brake trip.

5. The assembler slide brake spring.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

When a line of matrices is lifted for transfer to the casting mechanism the assembler slide It is released and the assembling elevator releasing bar I9 moves to the dotted line position in Fig. 1. Spring 20 then pulls slide 22 to the left. Pin Ila engages the outer end of slot 241) and pivots the bell crank to return the assembler slide I6 to the initial position. When the first few matrices are introduced into the elevator by star wheel I2, the assembler slide I6 is pushed to the left against the resilient action of spring 29. However, at this time, the tension of the spring is relatively slight. As soon as the preceding line of matrices has been delivered to the casting mechanism, the assembling elevator releasing bar I9 moves toward the right to the full line position in Fig. 1. This action occurs after a maximum of three or four matrices has been inserted into the elevator. When the assembling elevator releasing bar I9 returns to the right, it engages the stop 25 on slide 22 and pushes the slide to the full line position in Fig. 1 to hold spring 20 under substantial tension. When the slide is moved to the full line position, pin Ila shifts to the inner end of slot 24b. As the line of matrices lengthens in the elevator, assembler slide It moves to the left, free from tension of spring 20. Pin Ila moves freely in slot 24b and lever 24 rocks about its pivot to accommodate itself to the arcuate path through which the pin moves.

When a full line of matrices has been introduced into the elevator, pin Ila is disposed at or near the outer end of slot 24b. Assembler slide it is released when the line of matrices is raised and assembling elevator releasing bar I9 moves to the left when the line is transferred to the casting mechanism. Movement of the elevator releasing bar releases slide 22 and permits spring 20 to returnthe slide to the dotted line position. As the slide moves to the left, it

It also eliminates the complicated braking rocks bell crank Il about its pivot and pulls the assembler slide I6 toward the right to the initial position.

The entire cycle of operation is then repeated.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a Linotype machine of the type including an assembler having an elevator mechanism, an assembler slide, a, bell crank, means connecting one arm of the bell crank to the assembler slide, and a spring yieldably resisting pivotal movement of the bell crank, the assembler slide being movable in a direction to tensionthe said spring when matrices are assembled in the elevator mechanism, the improvement comprising a slotted lever mount-ed for pivotal and sliding movement adjacent one arm of the bell crank, means for imparting intermittent sliding movement to the lever, a pin carried by the bell crank movable in the slot in the lever, and means for connecting the spring to the said lever.

2. In a Linotype machine of the type including an assembler having an elevator mechanism, an assembler slide, a bell crank, means connecting one arm of the bell crank to the assembler slide, and a spring yieldably resisting pivotal movement of the bell crank, the assembler slide being movable in a direction to tension the said spring when matrices are assembled in the elevator mechanism, the improvement comprising a guideway adjacent one arm of the bell crank,a slide mounted in the said guideway, a slotted lever pivoted to the slide, a pin carried by the bell crank movable in the slot in the said lever, means for connecting the spring to the lever, and means for moving the slide in a direction to tension the spring and in timed relationship with the movements of the said assembler slide.

3. In a Linotype machine of the type including an assembler having an elevator mechanism, an assembler slide, a bell crank, means connecting one arm of the bell crank to the assembler slide, a spring for yieldably resisting pivotal movement of the bell crank, the assembler slide being movable in a direction to tension the said spring when matrices are assembled in the elevator mechanism, a guideway, and an assembling elevator releasing bar operating in said guideway, the improvement comprising a slide in said guideway adapted to be actuated by said elevator releasing bar, a slotted lever pivoted to the slide, a pin carried by the bel1 crank movable in the slot in said lever, and means for connecting the spring to the lever.

4. In a Linotype machine of the type including an assembler having an elevator mechanism, an assembler slide, a bell crank, means connecting one arm of the bell crank to the assembler slide, a. spring for yieldably resisting pivotal movement of the bell crank, the assembler slide being movable in a direction to tension the said spring'when matrices are assembled in the elevator mechanism, a guideway, and an assembling elevator releasing bar operating in said guideway, the improvement comprising aslide in said guideway adapted to be actuated by said elevator releasing bar, an adjustable stop means carried by the slide for spacing the slide a predetermined distance from the elevator releasing bar, a slotted lever pivoted to the slide, a pin carried by the bell crank movable in the slot in said lever, and means for connecting the spring to the lever.

5. In Linotype machine of the type including an assembler having an elevator mechanism, an assembler slide, a bell crank, means connecting one arm of the bell crank to the assembler slide, a spring yieldably resisting pivotal movement of the bell crank, the assembler slide being movable in a direction to tension the said spring when matrices are assembled in the elevator mechanism, the improvement comprising a guideway adjacent one arm of the bell crank, a slide mounted in the said guideway, a lever pivoted to the slide, means connecting the bell crank to the slide in a manner to permit the bell crank to move independently of the slide for a limited distance, means connecting the spring to the lever, and means operating in timed relation with the assembler slide for moving the slide and lever a predetermined distance in a direction to tension the said spring when the machine begins to assemble matrices in the said elevator mechanism.

6. In a Linotype machine of the type including an assembler having an elevator mechanism, an assembler slide, a bell crank, means connecting one arm of the bell crank to the assembler slide, a spring yieldably resisting pivotal movement of the bell crank, the assembler slide being movable in a direction to tension the said spring when matrices are assembled in the elevator mechanism, the improvement comprising coactive drive and driven means, said driven means interposed between the spring and bell crank connecting with the spring and having a pin and slot connection with the bell crank, and said drive means operating in timed relation with the assembler slide whereby to move the driven means in a direction to tension the spring when the machine begins to assemble a line of matrices in the assembler elevator and to a position where the pin and slot connection will permit the bell crank to pivot freely until a complete line of matrices has been assembled, the drive means releasing the driven means when the line of matrices is lifted by the elevator mechanism so that the spring may return the driven means, bell crank, and assembler slide.

GEORGE HARVEY HUTCHISON. 

